Premier gets youth support for top post

By Kingdom Mabuza and Zukile Majova -
30 April 2010 - 02:00

THE leadership of the ANC Youth League in Gauteng has rejected a spirited campaign by ANC provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile to be re-elected to this position at the party's provincial conference next month.

THE leadership of the ANC Youth League in Gauteng has rejected a spirited campaign by ANC provincial chairperson Paul Mashatile to be re-elected to this position at the party's provincial conference next month.

Instead, the league's provincial executive committee announced it would campaign for Premier Nomvula Mokonyane to replace Mashatile.

The league said its decision was informed by a desire to put an end to a divisive two centres of power in the province.

"We realised that the problems we now face intensified after a decision to appoint Mokonyane as the premier of Gauteng," ANCYL provincial secretary Thabo Kupa said.

Mokonyane, who is said to enjoy the blessing of the ANC national leadership, would be the first woman to lead the ANC in the province should she be elected.

Mokonyane's supporters argue that having Mashatile as a political head in the province destabilises governance of the province.

Last week ANC head of campaigns Fikile Mbalula was supposed to address a meeting of the Mzala branch in Mondeor as part of the drive to support Mokonyane. But he failed to attend.

Some ANC sources in the province have claimed that Mashatile will win the contest with Mokonyane.

ANC spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said nominations for candidates had not been validated.